News from Sheridan
School District No. 2Contact: Mark Stevens
[email protected]
303-495-8699 (mobile) • 720-328-5488 (office)
News Release
Nov. 15, 2018
Mill Levy Ballot
Results Celebrated—With Caution
Official results from Arapahoe County are still out, but
current totals show Ballot Issue 4B with
over 55 percent of votes favoring the mill levy proposal.
“We continue to add votes all the time, which is really a
good thing,” said Superintendent Pat
Sandos at the Board of Education meeting this week (Nov.
13). Sandos thanked Sheridan
teachers and staff and all those who worked on the campaign.
The election was held Nov. 6.
When the results become official, the proposal will raise $3
million through a mill levy increase.
The additional revenue is pledged to improve safety and
security; repair leaking roofs and
address other infrastructure needs; improve and upgrade
technology infrastructure and
operations in schools to support 21st Century learning
opportunities; and to make salaries and
wages of district personnel competitive with those of other
school districts in the metropolitan
area.
Superintendent Sandos said district staff recognizes its
responsibility to be careful stewards of
the mill levy revenue and will soon bring a detailed plan to
the board for review. “We have to
be thoughtful and smart,” said Sandos, with how the money is
prioritized and spent.
Key individuals who worked on the campaign will be
recognized at a future board meeting, said
Sandos, once the results are final.
State Appeal
The Colorado Department of Education’s review of Sheridan
School District 2’s performance
rating improved the overall score by one point, but not
enough for the district to hold onto its
“improvement” rating. The preliminary analysis, released in
August, indicated Sheridan will slip
back to the “priority improvement” category. The state did
not find enough evidence to adjust
their preliminary conclusions, said Superintendent Sandos.
The additional point granted by the
state left Sheridan one point short of the higher rating.
Sandos called the decision “heartbreaking” but said he has
confidence in the academic plan. He
said he expects to see achievement on a steady upward track
so the district’s score is no longer
hovering around the cutoff score between “improvement” and
“priority improvement.”
Pupil Count
Sheridan School District 2 enrollment is growing. The
district is serving 1,266.5 full-time
equivalent (FTE) students in the 2018-2019 school year—an
increase of 14 FTE over last year.
The actual total number of students is approximately 1,420,
but kindergarteners are counted as
half-time for the purposes of determining state funding.
The Early Childhood Center is up 25 students and currently at
capacity, noted Superintendent
Sandos, and Fort Logan Northgate School showed an increase
of 14 students. Sheridan High
School is up one student, SOAR Academy is up two students,
and Alice Terry Elementary
School’s enrollment is 26 students fewer than last year.
Early Childhood
Center in the Spotlight
Early Childhood Center principal Aimee Chapman and education
coordinator Jen Horn honored
staff members Ymelda Garcia and Rebecca Benavides.
Both Garcia and Benavides were ECC parents before becoming
staff members, said Chapman.
The pair has enrolled in classes at Arapahoe Community
College and both have become “quite
knowledgeable about the developmental pathway for young
children.” Horn lauded both staff
members for going “above and beyond” to help the school in
any way that’s needed.
Superintendent Sandos thanked Garcia and Benavides for their
“caring and compassionate”
approach with students. “I am so pleased you are being
recognized tonight for your efforts,” he
said.
Chapman and Horn also provided the board with an overview of
the school’s progress and
challenges.
ECC currently serves 160 students in 10 classrooms—44
percent are three years old; and 56
percent are four years old. The center is funded both by
Head Start and the Colorado Preschool
Program. The school is now at capacity but is keeping a
waiting list.
ECC is working to improve the quality of classroom time and
help young learners build skills
that will help them prepare for kindergarten. Teachers
monitor and measure pre-schoolers in a
variety of ways, including language, literacy, mathematics,
and social-emotional capabilities,
too.
The staff, said Chapman, will receive professional
development this year in a variety of topics
including language development and recognizing and
supporting expanded learning
development.
Consent Agenda
The consent agenda was approved.
About Sheridan School
District 2
Located southwest of Denver, Sheridan School District 2
seeks high-level post-secondary
options for all students through continuous improvement of
quality instruction. More:
www.ssd2.org
##